Abū Qurra (ca. 750–820) and his Concept of Sunna. A Debate on the Tradition of the Church in the Context of the Formation of Islamic Law,” Fiqh

Daga Portillo, Rocio (2020): Abū Qurra (ca. 750–820) and his Concept of Sunna. A Debate on the Tradition of the Church in the Context of the Formation of Islamic Law,” Fiqh. In: ARAM Periodical, Vol. 32, No. 1&2: pp. 61-82

Abstract

The concept of a living and oral tradition as a source of revelation parallel to the written word is found in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Abū Qurra defends the practice of the veneration of icons while at the same time defending the living tradition of the Church, Sunna, as source of revelation. Abū Qurra`s concept of Sunna mirrors the debate on wisdom and religious law of his time. For Abū Qurra wisdom is anchored in the experience of the community and saintly lives. Meanwhile, he speaks of Sunna within a context of the formation of Islamic law, fiqh, sponsored by the ʿAbbāsid rulers, during the period which saw the transformation of ḥadīṯs from an oral tradition into a written one. By defending the value of the living tradition as source of revelation, Sunna, Abū Qurra defends the value of the person. Sunna, a word with many meanings, but used in the 9th century to denote both revelation and law of an oral character, could be a word that helps us to deepen the understanding of revelation among the religions in a time when written culture leads us to be unable to see beyond the idea of revelation as written revelation.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Keywords: Abū Qurra; Sunna; tradition of the Church; fiqh
• Faculties: Cultural Studies > Department of Ancient and Modern Cultures > Institute for Near and Middle Eastern Studies; Cultural Studies > Department of Ancient and Modern Cultures > Institute for Near and Middle Eastern Studies > Arabic and Islamic Studies
• Subjects: 200 Religion > 270 History of Christianity; 200 Religion > 290 Other religions
• ISSN: 1783-1342
• Language: English